^S Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



the Meeting of the British Association in South Africa in that 

 year.) 



It cannot be without a lasting Ijeneficial influence on the 

 intellectual and material progress of the country that a body of men, 

 distinguished in every branch of pure and applied Science, should 

 come to this country, meet us in social and scientific intercourse, 

 ■examine for themselves the resources of the country and the great 

 social and scientific problems which call for solution. That, I think, 

 goes without saying. But we venture to hope also that out of such 

 a visit must arise a deeper common interest, a wider mutual view, 

 a larger sympathy even than that which exists at present, ami which 

 already binds Britain and her Colonies together by so strong a lie. 



I feel sure that every one here to-night, everv member of the 

 Association, all who have the best interests of the country at heart, 

 will unite in giving to our visitors our warmest hospitality and 

 welcome, that they may carry back with them not only memories 

 of an interesting visit, but of true and warm hearted friends that they 

 have found in South Africa. 



One of our chief functions is to bring together once a year (now 

 at one centre in South Africa, now in another), not only the working 

 members of the various Scientific Societies throughout the country, 

 but all who are interested in Science either in an active or svmpathetic 

 sense. 



There are many with undefined scientific tastes or with very 

 modest appreciation of their own possible usefulness, who hesitate to 

 join the more formal societies, but who feel that they may join such 

 an association as this. I know not a few who, in attending a meeting 

 of the British Association, have found such sympathy, such help, 

 such interest as the result, and who have developed such unexpected 

 capacity of their own that they have subsequently themselves become 

 active workers in Science. 



Speaking from my own experience, I have a boyish recollection 

 •of the meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen in 1859. with 

 Prince Albert in the chair, but beyond an excited general interest in 

 the whole affair I can remember no special benefit I derived from it. 

 The next at which I was present was the meeting at Edinburgh in 

 1871. 



Lord Kelvin (then Sir William Thomson) was in the chair. I 

 was ver)- keen about a little l)it of practical astronomical work of 

 my own from which I attempted to draw an important conclusion. 

 It was a very bad bit of work, and its conclusions were all wrong; 

 but I was treated with a kindness and consideration which my work 

 did not deserve. I received useful hints and suggestions, and had 

 instilled into me some of those principles of scientific caution which 

 T have already tried to preach to you. I met men for the first time 

 whom I have since had the privilege of regarding as amongst mv best 

 and dearest friends, and without whose help, encouragement and 

 guidance I could never have accomplished even the little which I 

 have since been enabled to do in the way of useful work for Science. 



